Construction of beach chairs and the like



r w. B. CLARK CONSTRUCTION OF BEACH CHAIRS AND THE LIKE ept. 21, 137.

Filed May 4, 1954 gowaz l'mventor attorneys Patented Sept. 21, 1937NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.093.829 v cons'ravcrron or mason 01mins ANDTHE mm William Bernard Clark, Bird Haven, Va. Application May 4, 1934,Serial No. 123,915;

Qlaims. (01. 155-59) This invention relates to the construction of beachchairs and the like and aims generally to improve the same.

As heretofore constructed, devices of this char- 5 acter have requiredthat the user thereof vacate the chair or otherwise inconveniencehimself in order to effect adjustment of its structure to provide for achange of the tilt of the chair or for a changed inclination of the backpanel relative to the seat panel thereof, and in addition such chairs,when adapted for tilting, have had a tendency to overbalance if theoccupant tilted the chair backwardly to a material extent. Furthermore,when the seat and back panels of such chairs have been fabric paned, ifany provision at all has been made for facilitating tightening of thefabric, such provision has usually added materially to the weight of thechair or been difficult of operation. Certain of the novel features soof my invention, severally and in various combinations, are particularlyeffective in obviating these objections, and in effecting a markedimprovement in the construction of such chairs.

In the accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment of beach chairillustrative of my invention.

- Fig. l is a perspective view of such embodiment;

Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 a detailed sectional view of the novel back panel adjustingdevice embodied therein;

Fig. 4 a detailed view from below showing the illustrative mode ofmounting the foldablelegs; and

Fig. 5 a detailed sectional view showing the preferred mode of securingthe fabric pane in the back and seat panels.

This illustrative embodiment, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2,comprises a back section A and a seat section B, together withcooperating elements hereinafter described. The back section A and theseat section B may be of similar construction, as in the form shown, inwhich the back section is framed by end members in and ii and sidemembers i2 and i3, while the seat section is framed by end members itand i5 and side members l8 and i i. In the embodiment shown the back andseat sections A and B each further comprise a fabric pane or strip i8,i9, secured to opposed frame members thereof, herein the end framemembers, and the securement thereof to at least one of the frame membersis by a preferred means of my invention facilitating the securement andtightening thereof. In the form shown, the same means is applied to eachsecurement of the fabric because of its simplicity, certainty, and

cheapness, and that the construction of the same may be clearly apparentI have indicated in Fig.

5, on an enlarged scale, the securement of the end of the back strip i8to the frame member ii. The securement, as shown in the drawing, is 5effected by means of a,cleat member 20 provided with a, tongue 2i shapedto enter a channel 22 formed in the inner face of the frame member (I I,Fig. 5) and by catching the fabric (I 8, Fig.

5) between the tongue and the channel and then 10 forcing the partstogether, it will be seen that the entry of the tongue into the channelwill carry the fabric with it, thus tightening the fabric. The cleat 20may then be used as a guide in cutting off the fabric at its under edge,as indicated 1 at 23, Fig. 5, and with this construction, three woodscrews 24, or equivalent fastening, are ample to retain the parts inplace. With this arrangement, in case of stretch and sagging of thefabric, it is a simple matter to tighten the same 20 by simply removingthe wood screws, pulling out the cleat, taking up on the fabric andreplacing the parts, as the cieat will automatically draw the fabrictight as it is forced home, and upon cutting off the excess fabric as at23, a completely 25 finished appearance will be obtained. Similarly, thechanging of fabrics for new or different ones is facilitated by thisfeature of my invention.

In the form shown, the back and seat panels A 30 and B are swingablyconnected with one another by suitable means such as the hinges 25 (Fig.2) and I provide novel means for adjustably setting the inclination ofthe back panel A relative to the seat panel B. In the preferredembodiment, this 35 novel means comprises flexible straps 28, suitablysecured to the back section, and herein to the side frame members i2 andi3, respectively; this securement being effected preferably by theconstruction shown, in which a recess or hole 29 is 40 formed in each ofthe frame members i2, i3 (at about armpit height therein for the reasonhereinafter explained) through which pintles 30 are extended, andengaged in bights or loops 3|, formed as by folding over and rivetingthe ends 5 of the straps 28.

The other ends of the straps are engaged in snubbers or like adjustingdevices located in such relation as to be convenient to the hands of theoccupant of the chair so that he may efiect ad- 50 justment of theinclination of the back thereof without having to arise from the chairor assume an uncomfortable position to do so. While my invention in itsbroader aspects contemplates the use of various forms of such devices,the particu- 55 lar form disclosed herein is preferred because of itscheapness, simplicity and convenience. This illustrative form ofsnubber, best shown in Fig. 3, comprises a lower snubber member, hereinthe pintle 33, and an upper snubber member, herein the pintle 34, whichis positioned slightly forward of, or directly above the pin 33. Thispositioning is particularly desirable, because with the strap 23 in theinclination shown, the substantially vertical arrangement gives apositive snubbing action not obtained if the pintle 34 is displacedmaterially rearwardly of the pintle 33, while providing for readyrelease of the snubblng action, the release of which would be difficultif the pintle 34 were considerably forward of the pintle 33. In the formshown, which .I prefer, the pintles 33 and 34 are arranged in the seatsection side frame members it and I! in much the same way the pintles 30are arranged in the members I! and I3. and traverse the recesses orholes 35, similar to the recesses or holes 29, before described.

The manner of engagement of the straps 28 with the snubbing means 33,34, and the mode of operation thereof will be clearly apparent from Fig.3, which shows the strap 28 formed into a bight 36 about the pintle 33,with its strap end 31 and standing part 38 overlying the pintle 34, thestanding part being uppermost so that tensioning of the same will snubthe strap end 3! against the pintle 34.

With this arrangement, when the occupant of the chair wishes to effectan adjustment of the back angle, he has but to grasp the strap ends 31,which are located so as to be convenient to the hands, and exert aslight pull, relieving his weight against the back panel. This will pullthe panel upwardly to any desired position. If the occupant wishes toassume a more reclined position, he has but to place a forefinger undereach standing part 33 closely adjacent the pintle 34, and lift thestanding parts forwardly and upwardly between the forefingers andthumbs. This simple act releases the snubbing action over the pintle 34and allows the back section A to recline to any desired extent.

To materially augment the ease and comfort experienced by the occupantof chairs according to my invention, for preferred embodiments thereof Iprovide seat tilting legs, and I may also employ novel rear rock-members40 which function to minimize tendency of the chair to overbalance if anoccupant presses with his feet upon the ground and rocks the chair backand forth or to a backwardly tilted position which he may findparticularly comfortable for him.

In the form shown, these "rear rock-members 40, so called to distinguishthem from ordinary rocking-chair rockers, are in the form of a 120segment of a circle and are secured in underlying relation to the rearend of the seat section with their centers approximately at the rearedge of the seat section so that they in part extend rearwardly thereof.Due to this arrangement and the rolling contact of these members withthe ground, as the chair is tilted rearwardly about them, theirground-contacting area runs backwardly along their are and is thusgradually displaced rearwardly with reference to the seat panel, therebytending to maintain the center of weight of the occupant and chairforwardly of the ground contacting area, and tending to avoidoverbalancing of the chair.

The seat tilting legs above mentioned are, in the preferred embodimentof my invention, somes,oas,sao

what longer when the rock members 44 are provided than they would be ifthese members were omitted for the purpose of providing a cheaper model,but in either case I prefer to employ seat tilting legs of theconstruction clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, wherein block members 4|are suitably secured to the underside of the seat section at the frontcorners thereof as by screws 42, and provided with slots 43 in which theleg members 44 are pivoted on pintles 43, the slots and pivot pointsbeing so arranged that when the legs 44 are moved to the raised positionshown in Fig. 2 their front faces will abut against the front ends ofthe slots 43, indicated at 43, avoiding the necessity .of providing anyspecial stops to prevent their swinging beyond this position. Thus thisconstruction is particularly simple and effective. In addition it"willbe seen that the blocks 4i materially strengthen the front corners ofthe seat section B, which receive the most strain, and also that theiradded weight aids in preventing overbalancing of the chair when tiltedbackwardly. If desired, the legs 44 may be connected to move as one unitby means of a rail 41, as shown.

As above mentioned, the attachments of the straps 28 to the side framemembers I! and II of the back panel A are located at about armpit heightand this feature cooperates with the location of the snubbersconveniently under the hands of the occupant, to so position the straps23 that they constitute comfortable arm or elbow rests for the occupant.As the back panel A, in the form shown, is made of sufficient height tosupport the head and as my improved construction greatly facilitates theobtaining of various comfortable inclinations of the several parts andavoids tendency of the chair to overturn, it will be perceived that thechair is most convenient and comfortable, as well as cheap and simple ofmanufacture and capable of folding compactly.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention for thepurpose of illustrating the same, I of course appreciate that myinvention may be embodied in other forms and that my disclosure hereinwill suggest to those skilled in the art other particular constructionsequivalent to those disclosed or which will be suggested thereby, andthis is to be considered in interpreting the following claims.

I claim:

1. A beach chair including swingingly connected seat and back sections,means for adjusting the relative angular positions thereof andsimultaneously operable by the occupant in normal sitting position,rock-members underlying the rear end of the seat section and extendingrearwardly therebeyond, leg means adjacent the front portion of the seatsection adapted, with said rock-members, to support the seat section ina normal rearwardly inclined position, said rockmembers providing for agradual rearward movement relative to the seat section of the groundcontacting area thereof, as the chair is tilted backwardly beyond itssaid normal position by the occupant, and said rock members positionedadjacent to and extending rearwardly of the connected edges of the seatand back sections so as to normally maintain the center of weight of theoccupant and chair forwardly of said ground contacting area to avoidoverbalanclng of the chair.

2. A chair including a seat section and a back section swinginglyconnected therewith, a flexible strap secured to each side of said backsection at about arm-pit height thereon. a lower snubber member carriedby each sideof said seat section, an upper snubber member above andadjacent thereto, said strap forming a bight about said lower memberwith its end and standing part overlying said upper member with thestanding part uppermost whereby tensioning of said standing part effectssnubbing of the strap end, and said snubber members being locatedadjacent the forward portion of said seat section convenient one to eachhand of the occupant forsimuitaneous operation, said straps thusnormally occupying an arm supporting position and said constructionproviding for equalized adjustment of the angularity of the seatand backsections by an occupant of the chair without necessitating that he arisetherefrom for the purpose.

3. A chair including a seat. section and a back section swingabiyconnected therewith, said sections including side frame members, theside,

frame members of the back section having recesses therein at aboutarm-pit height, pintles traversing said recesses, flexible straps eachsecured at one end to one of said pintles, other recesses formed in theside frame members of the seat section near the forward ends thereof, apair of pintles traversing each of said other recesses, the pintles ofeach pair being arranged substantially vertically one above the otherand said flexible straps being extended and arranged to form bightsabout the lower pintles of said pairs with their ends and standing partsoverlying the upper pintles of said pairs with the standing partsuppermost whereby tensioning of said standing parts effects snubbing ofthe strap ends, and whereby the occupant of the chair may raise thechair back by simultaneously pulling on the strap ends, or lower thesame by simultaneously lifting the standing parts adjacent the bights torelease the snubbing action thereof.

4. A chair including a seat section and a back section swingabiyconnected therewith, straps secured to the back section at the sidesthereof and at about arm-pit height, and snubbers arranged at the sidesof the seat section in the forward part thereof, said snubbers"comprising elements for receiving and releasably retaining the forwardends of said straps to hold said chair back in various positions andpermitting simultaneous operation to adjust the same, said straps beingautomatically retained by said snubbers" in adjusted positionrespectively, and said arrangement locating the straps to normally serveas arm rests and enabling the occupant to adjust the inclination of thechair back by manipulation with his hands at the points where theynaturally lie while the occupant is retaining a comfortable position inthe chair.

5. A chair including swingabiy and adjustably connected seat and backsections and provided with short rock-members underlying the rear end ofthe seat section secured thereto and extending rearwardly therebeyond,and short leg means pivoted at the front end of the seat section andadapted, with the rock-members, to support the seat section in a normalrearwardly inclined position, said rock-members providing for a gradualrearward movement, relative to the seat section, of the groundcontacting area thereof as the chair is tilted backwardly from its saidnormal position, said legs being free to follow in contact with theground, and said rock members positioned adjacent to and extendingrearwardly of the connected edges of the seat and back sections so as tonormally maintain the center of weight of the occupant andchairaforwardly of said ground contacting area to avoid over-balancingof the chair.

W'ILLIAM BERNARD

